Comparative morphology of the osteocyte lacunocanalicular system in various vertebrates

Osteocytes are embedded in the bone matrix, and they communicate with adjacent osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts through the osteocyte lacunocanalicular system. Osteocytes are believed to be essential for the maintenance of bone homeostasis because they regulate mechanical sensing and mineral metabolism in mammalian bones; however, osteocyte morphology in other vertebrates has not been well documented. We conducted a comparative study on the morphology of osteocytes and the lacunocanalicular system of the following vertebrates: two teleost fishes [medaka (Oryzias latipes), and zebrafish (Danio rerio)], three amphibians [African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), black-spotted pond frog (Rana nigromaculata), and Japanese fire-bellied newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster)], two reptiles [four-toed tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) and green iguana (Iguana iguana)], and two mammals (laboratory mouse C57BL6 and human). The distribution of the osteocyte lacunocanalicular system in all these animals was investigated using the modified silver staining and the fluorescein-conjugated phalloidin staining methods. Bones of medaka had few osteocytes (acellular bone). Bones of zebrafish contained osteocytes (cellular bone) but had a poorly developed osteocyte lacunocanalicular system. Bones of Xenopus laevis, a freshwater species, and of other amphibians, reptiles, and mammals contained numerous osteocytes and a well-developed lacunocanalicular system. The present study indicates that development of the osteocyte lacunocanalicular system differs between teleost fishes and land vertebrates, but this pattern is not directly related to aquatic habitat.